Morris the Cat on How to Get a Better Sleep

Morris the Cat on How to Get a Better Sleep

Morris the Cat thinks what the world needs now is … sleep. Anyway, Morris IS a cat, so sleeping is what he does best.

He also thinks what the world needs now is love, but he prefers sleep, mostly.

He’s a professional sleeper, in fact. I’m not. I lie awake all night, every night, practically. While looking for expert advice on how to sleep better, I was unsatisfied with the information I was finding.

So I had a thought… why not ask someone who’s truly an expert on the subject; someone who spends more time sleeping than most of us spend at work? I’m talking, of course, about Morris the Cat.

You all know Morris, I presume. He’s that handsome spokescat for 9Lives Cat Food and an icon in his industry. He has starred in over 50 commercials. So far.

When he’s not grooming himself for the camera, to impress his many fans, or he’s not eating 9Lives cat food, I know what he’s doing.

He’s sleeping.

Anyway, Morris took time out of his busy schedule to answer some questions from our readers about the very im-purr-tant issue of sleep.

Morris the Cat on How to Get a Better Sleep

Dear Morris,

I’ve been experiencing difficulties with falling asleep, tossing and turning once my head hits the pillow. I don’t get it because I feel tired all day at work; then I come home, brush my teeth, flip on the TV, and just lie there. I’m hoping I can learn from the expert. Morris, what am I doing wrong?

Sincerely,

Sleepless in San Fur-nando

Morris answers:

Dear Sleepless in San Fur-nando,

Your case, unfortunately, is not at all uncommon. When you’re going all day long at the speed of a cheetah, it’s no wonder your mind darts around like a red laser dot at bedtime. Luckily, as a cat, I spend up to 140 hours per week sleeping and I can tell you there is hope! For starters, I notice you mentioned turning on the TV before bed. Cats don’t watch TV – this is partly because the majority of us can’t speak English that well, but mostly because it interferes with our snooze time. Scientifically speaking, the ‘glow’ emitted by an electronic screen enters the brain and slows the release of melatonin, the hormone that helps us sleep. So next time you want to turn on the tube before bed, try counting sheep instead – or better yet, mice!

Kitty hugs,

Morris the Cat

Dear Morris,

I’m a cat but as you know, even animals have ‘spirit animals.’ Mine is an owl – a night owl to be exact. I love to play “catch the speck of dust” or “chase your tail in the middle of the bed” into the wee hours of the morning. My humans have no idea what they’re missing out on. They just lay there snoring and swat at me when I come too close. How can I make them see that daytime is lame, and the real party happens under stars (the stick-on, glow-in-the-dark kind)?

Yours truly,

Hyper Harry

Morris Answers:

Dear Hyper Harry,

Sadly, this is a case you may not win. Humans need their sleep at night. You get to spend all day snoozing and they only get a few precious hours when the sun goes down. Your humans can, however, make sure that they understand why it is you’re pouncing about and provide things to make nighttime more fun. For instance, your humans could consider getting a kitty condo or put out bags or boxes for you to explore. For extra credit, they can hide treats around the house so you can go on a midnight scavenger hunt. Or, if you’re really lucky, they’ll bring home a kitty best friend for you to play with whenever you please. Other cats might be up at night because they get hungry, in which case their humans could try an automatic food dispenser to provide small meals throughout the night. Remember, the more you let your humans sleep at night, the more energy they’ll have to play with you during the day!

Kitty hugs,

Morris

Dear Morris,

My cat and I are BFFs. We do everything together – play, eat, snuggle – we make a purrfect team. But in the bedroom, I prefer to have my space. My cat, on the other hand, thinks there’s no better place to sleep than right on my head! Why does she do this? I’m not all that fun when I’m sleeping.

Warmly,

Tired Tails

Dear Tired Tails,

You have been bestowed a great honor. As cats, we don’t always wear our hearts on our paws, but one tell-tail sign we love and trust you is when we choose to make YOU our bed. Plus, you’re warm. And getting our warmth from you helps us to conserve our own energy for more important things like eating. The rhythm of your breath also creates a calming effect and the curve of your face, stomach, or legs perfectly forms to our bodies. Basically, you’re like a waterbed, heated blanket, and memory foam all in one! So the next time your cat goes to curl up on you, think of it as a compliment and drift off to sleep knowing you are loved… and you’re very comfortable.

Purrs,

Morris

There you have it. Sage advice from Morris the Cat on How to Get a Better Sleep.

For more info on Morris’ mission to help cats and humans live well – including his initiative to donate one million 9Lives meals to rescue kitties – check out his Live Well & Prospurr website

Morris also has an initiative to help humans “paw it forward” and help hungry cats at the ASPCA just by tweeting #MorrisFeeds.

Sign Up NOW for our Free Newsletter!

Born in Nova Scotia, I moved to the United States 20+ years ago.I am a dedicated lover of animals and fight for their rights and protection.I love people too, of course, and enjoy meeting folks from all walks of life.I enjoy philosophical discussion, laughing, and really odd ball stuff.I hope you enjoy my site.Leave me a comment to let me know you were here!Peace out.

Jeanne Melanson is just an ordinary gal from Nova Scotia, now living in Michigan.

Her animal family has included 13 Alpine Goats, 40 Chickens, 20 Turkeys, 3 Vietnamese Pot Bellied Pigs, a number of Turtles, 2 Raccoons, 1 Opossum , her share of Cats and Dogs, and a Bearded Dragon named Shirley.